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CAIRO — Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi pleaded last night with his countrymen to give him
more time to solve the country’s many ills, arguing in what many believe was the most important
speech of his political life that Egypt cannot change leaders every year.

Morsi’s televised address, which lasted more than 21/2 hours and did not end until after
midnight, came on a day when building tensions were obvious ahead of Sunday, the first anniversary
of his inauguration. Tanks took up positions on Cairo street corners, and residents nationwide
braced for what they fear will be prolonged civil unrest as Morsi supporters and opponents plan for
competing demonstrations.

“All I ask is for you to listen, discuss, put the nation’s interest above anything else,” Morsi
said in a speech that opened with verses from the Quran, well-wishes to Muslims for the coming holy
month of Ramadan and gratitude to those who lost their lives during the 2011 uprising that ended
the three-decade rule of Hosni Mubarak.

But the rambling speech also showed why Morsi has had such a hard time closing divisions between
his Islamist backers, many of them members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the liberals, secularists
and former regime officials who oppose his rule.

Twenty-four minutes into his speech, Morsi mocked former members of the regime. Later on, he
blamed the news media for Egypt’s declining image in the world. He blamed protests for the collapse
of the tourism industry. He accused thieves of stealing gasoline and causing the current shortage,
and he called on Egyptians to use 10 percent less electricity to help stave off the current power
shortage.

He tried to portray himself as empathetic to those who stood in line for hours to buy gasoline. “
I of course come and go in the street and I see people’s suffering for myself,” he said. “I would
like to go and stand in a line. I’m upset about it.”

In iconic Tahrir Square, where the demonstrations that toppled Mubarak began, spectators could
barely hear the speech over chants of “Leave!”

Huge protests are expected in the next few days — Friday by Morsi’s supporters, and Sunday by
his detractors.

But violent demonstrations already were underway before Morsi spoke. At least two people were
killed and nearly 200 were injured in protests in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura.